Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-04-23
SCENE IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
A Long Procession OF Mounted sasage~
A Most Impressive Spectacle.

A Most Impressive Spectacle.
Some wears ago, in late August. was
travelling from the land of the Blackfeet
to Walla Walla, in Washington territory.
had followed an Indian trail from the
Saskatchewan plains to the Cadotte pass.
In the pass unsaddled my horse for his
noon feed and sat down To smoke. had
Just left noisy, buffalo hunting Indian
camp, and presently | conjured an Indian
scene. Columns of Indians, painted and
stripped TO their breech clouts. filed past
me and disappeared in the haze which
hung over the eastern plains. Great
herds Of buffalo sprang into life in my
brain, and bands of Cheyenncs, Sioux
and Blackfeet pursued them. When the
buffalo were falling and the plains be-
hind me were q map Of ever shifting
light and color and active life, the Utes,
mounted and with bent bows and long,
groovcd war arrows drawn to their heads
dashed past me and battle, savage and
bloody, ragged below.
sat smoking and wondering why men
ever Became lonesome when they could re-
people the remote solitude of highland and
plain and enjoy scenes Of human interest,
when nv horse threw up his head and
sn''Ted inquirlngly Of the air and then
trotted Ia me. and stood 10y my side look
ing at the summit of the pass, which was
a few yards above us. Presently an In.
dian 5 head appeared above the crest Of
the range. sat and looked at him and
| helooktpl at me. Soon another and another
and another dark and savage visaged head
rose above the crest, and then the head
Of column of mounted Indians rode into
sight. They were singing their marching
West show do. Every trail was occupied.
The Indians looked neither TO the right
nor to the left. but marched slowly past
me. There were old men, and warriors,
and young men, all with their rifles across
their knees. and hundreds of women,
some Of whom were handsome. and many
children, aud an army of dogs brought
up the rear.
thought had coniured to very good
effect. For an hour this column swept
past me. and | sat on rock and smoked
and looked at them. Not a word was
spoken to me, Hardly a glance was cast
at me. The migrating people talked to
one another, and laughed. and had a good
time generally. Three thousand Indians
deiiled in front Of me. They were
gay with bright colored shirts, and
gaudy blankets. and many colored
painted faces. | knew that these In,
dians We're portions Of the Nez Perce
Flathead, Spokane. Okinagan, Wenat
chee. and Peud Oreille tribes. and that
they were going To hunt buffalo on th,
Saskatchewan plains and to fight the
Blackfeet. These Indians riding past mt
IN the Cadotte pass made one of the most
impressive spectacles | ever saw in the
heart Of the republic.
That evening about dark. while was
riding westward on the Blackfoot river
/ trail, | met bela,ed Indian who wa.
hurrying after the main body. He made
signs Of inquiry 10 me, and ! answered
with signs. | did not fully understand
the sign language. and the anxious Indian
failed to- interpret my meaning. Evi
IDENTIFY | Conveyed information of direfu
import. The dusky warrior started il
his saddle. He slapped his mouth will
open palm TO express his great surprise
then wheeled his horse and gallpped oil
before | had finished telling my story.
have often wondered what ! really told
that savage and to what impelle,l him.. =
| Frank Wilkeson in New York Times.